David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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560. To ask the Minister for Health when work on the delivery of 26 new ICU beds at St. James's Hospital will commence; the level of funding that has been allocated for this project; when these beds are expected to be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56909/21]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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677. To ask the Minister for Health the way the €10 million announced in budget 2022 for critical care will be allocated; the sub-allocation to measures within this new measures grouping in tabular form; the amount remaining unallocated; the amount which relates to other new measures funding group commitments; if this is included as a whole or pro rata; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57504/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 677 together.

The Health Service Capacity Review, which was noted by Government in 2018, recommended that an additional 190 critical care beds should be in place by 2031, bringing the total to 430. Accordingly, the Strategic Plan for Critical Care, which was noted by Government in December 2020, aims to increase capacity from the 2020 baseline of 255 critical care beds, to 446 over time, to fully address the Capacity Review’s recommendations in regard to critical care.

Very significant funding of €52m was provided by Government in Budget 2021 to commence implementation of Phase 1 of the Plan. This provides for the permanent retention of 40 additional critical care beds which were funded temporarily in 2020 as part of the Covid response, and for the opening of a further 26 beds in new build capacity. The HSE has advised that 42 of these beds are now open, bringing baseline capacity to 297 although the number of beds open on any given day fluctuates as a result of a variety of factors. The funding provided in 2021 includes 5 beds at St. James's Hospital. 4 of these beds are now open, with recruitment underway to open the remaining bed as soon as possible.

Budget 2022 is providing €10.45m to complete Phase 1 of the Strategic Plan, allowing for recruitment of the necessary staff to allow for the opening of 19 further permanent critical care beds, fund the upgrade of a number of beds from high dependency (Level 2) to ICU (Level 3), and implementation of an ICU Clinical Information System to support our critical care staff in managing their patients more effectively, improving patient outcomes and shortening length of stay in ICU.

Phase Two of the Strategic Plan will see further beds added through the development of new build capacity at a number of sites, including further beds at St James's Hospital.